Deakin's marine biology course provides you with a unique opportunity to study temperate marine biology in an environment that has some of the highest biodiversity in Australia. Through extensive hands-on laboratory and fieldwork experiences you'll discover the great diversity that exists in coastal and oceanic ecosystems, and learn how to sustainably manage precious marine environments. The course has a strong ecological focus, linking biological and oceanographic processes in the study of marine environments. You'll explore coral reefs to icebergs, estuaries to oceans and the surf zone to the deep abyss. Throughout the course you'll get a strong understanding of environmental sustainability, and use scientific methods and tools to practice sustainable management of natural resources within marine and coastal environments, relevant to both Australia and overseas. You will gain stimulating hands-on experience through fieldwork in natural marine and coastal environments on the Victorian coast, including the Great Ocean Road and Port Phillip Bay. For example, students develop knowledge associated with scientific research methods, impact assessments and marine and coastal management by conducting field work in estuaries, intertidal rocky shores, shallow marine habitats, such as seagrass beds, and also high energy sandy beaches. Elective options also provide students with the opportunity to study tropical marine environments within Australia and gain a broader view of the world by electing to study overseas. The course also attracts many international exchange students, which enables domestic students to establish friendships and networks with colleagues from overseas. The professional practice unit involves a placement within a relevant, course-related organisation within either Australia or overseas. Guest speakers from a range of relevant employers also contribute to this unit. This provides students with an opportunity to begin networking with potential employers and greatly prepares students to be 'job-ready' on completion of the course. Units in the course may include assessment hurdle requirements. Course structure To complete the Bachelor of Environmental Science (Marine Biology), students must attain 24 credit points. Most units (think of units as ‘subjects’) are equal to 1 credit point. So that means in order to gain 24 credit points, you’ll need to study 24 units (AKA ‘subjects’) over your entire degree. Most students choose to study 4 units per trimester, and usually undertake two trimesters each year. The 24 credit points include 21 core units 3 elective units Graduate outcomes Career outcomes Career opportunities for graduates include marine ecotourism, marine education (e.g. marine aquaria), park rangers, fisheries officers, aquaculture technicians and management, marine biology consultants, laboratory technicians, museum employment, local government environmental officers, sustainability project officers, employees of local water authorities and GIS analysts. Further opportunities include working in scientific research institutes and pursuing postgraduate study. Course learning outcomes Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.